ENGLISH II
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Students are required to have passed the English I exam in order to register for the English II exam.
The students’ knowledge will be assessed through a final level B2 written and oral test that will take place on the same day. It is necessary to pass the written test to access the oral part.
1. The computer-based written test lasts 40 minutes and consists in 60 (multiple choice or fill-in-the-gap) questions on Collocations, Phrasal Verbs and Idioms.
The final mark is calculated out of 30. Pass mark is 18, which will allow students to access the oral part of the exam. If it is less than 18, the test is not passed and students will have to take the exam again during the following session.
2. For the oral test students are required to give a presentation in English with visual support (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) that describes and examines a TV series (only one season if the TV series has multiple seasons) through the criteria shown in class (language, characters, plot, etc.)
The final mark is calculated out of 30. Pass mark is 18. If it is less than 18, the exam is not passed and students will have to take the oral exam again. After passing the oral exam, the final mark will be added to that of the written test, which will result in a final, average mark.
The course aims to improve the students’ fluency in English (B2+ level) in four main areas:
1. Collocations (combinations of words which frequently appear together): increase theoretical and practical knowledge of collocations and how to use them (e.g. basic concepts, functions), learn collocations in context (travel, environment, relationships, work and study, etc.).
2. Phrasal verbs (a verbal phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or adverb): increase theoretical and practical knowledge of knowledge of phrasal verbs and how to use them (e.g. key verbs, key particles), learn phrasal verbs in context (feelings, relationships, business, health, sport, weather, etc.).
3. Idioms (a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words): increase the theoretical and practical knowledge of knowledge of idioms and how to use them (e.g.), learn idioms in context (clothes, music and theatre, work, etc.).
4. Media: analyse a TV series (language, plot, characters)
The main language skills involved are speaking, writing, reading and comprehension.
The course is divided into the following modules:
A) Collocations:
- Grammatical aspects of collocations;
- Special aspects of collocations;
- Travel and the environment;
- People and relationships;
- Leisure and lifestyle;
- Work and study;
- Society and institutions;
- Basic concepts;
- Functions.
B) Phrasal verbs:
- Learning about phrasal verbs;
- Key verbs;
- Key particles;
- Concepts;
- Functions;
- Work, study, and finance;
- Personal life;
- The world around us.
C) Idioms:
- Grammatical aspects of idioms;
- Types of idioms;
- Idioms to talk various aspects of life;
- Idioms from various topic areas;
- Idioms used in journalism, advertising and formal writing
- Idioms used in conversation
D) Media:
- Watching a TV series in English;
- Learning English from a TV series in English;
- Analysing a TV series.
The material will be shown/distributed in class and uploaded to the e-learning page of the course.
Bibliography:
Bignell J. (2013), An Introduction to Television Studies, 3rd edition, Routledge.
McCarthy M., O’Dell Felicity (2017), English Collocations in Use (Intermediate), second edition, Cambridge University Press.
McCarthy M., O’Dell Felicity (2017), English Idioms in Use (Intermediate), second edition, Cambridge University Press.
McCarthy M., O’Dell Felicity (2017), English Phrasal Verbs in Use (Intermediate), second edition, Cambridge University Press.
McKee R. (1997), Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting, New York: Harper Collins (ReaganBooks).
Truby J. (2007), The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller, New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux.
Teaching is based on frontal lessons, in which the teacher shows the contents of the course. Students are required to participate actively through exercises, watching videos in English, readings, conversation and mock tests with guided correction.
Office hours upon appointment via email: daniel.russo@uninsubria.it